United Nations -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The U.N. Security Council approved a resolution Monday to send 4,200 peacekeepers to Abyei , Sudan , as part of a recent agreement between Sudan and Southern Sudan .

The resolution will establish , for six months , the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei -LRB- UNISFA -RRB- , comprising `` a maximum of 4,200 military personnel , 50 police personnel , and appropriate civilian support , '' the resolution states .

It passed the council unanimously , 15-0 .

In a statement released by the State Department , Secretary Hiliary Clinton commended the swift passage of the resolution .

`` Abyei has been a source of regional tension for many years , '' the statement said . `` We urge the parties to reach an immediate cease-fire and to provide aid workers with the unfettered access required to deliver humanitarian assistance to innocent civilians affected by the conflict . ''

A week ago , the Sudanese government and the Sudan People 's Liberation Movement signed an agreement to allow peacekeepers in Abyei , aimed at ending strife that has ravaged much of the country . The two sides agreed in principle on the need for a third party to monitor the ill-defined border between north and south before the scheduled July 9 independence for the south .

The U.N. peacekeepers will `` monitor and verify the redeployment of any Sudan Armed Forces , Sudan People 's Liberation Army or its successor '' from the Abyei area , among other tasks , the Security Council resolution states .

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New : Clinton commends the swift passage of the U.N. resolution

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The resolutions establishes a six-month security force at Abyei , Sudan

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The two sides signed an agreement last week allowing peacekeepers

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South Sudan is to gain independence July 9